Gerald Donovan RANS S-16 N116GD

Summary

On 12 July 2017 at about 13:30 local time, a Gerald Donovan RANS S-16 registered N116GD was involved in an accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 July 2017 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Mid Valley Airpark (E98)

Coordinates

34.7611, -106.7450

Aircraft

Gerald Donovan RANS S-16

Registration

N116GD

Category

Airplane

Year built

2017

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Los Lunas → Los Lunas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA407

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane reported that he was performing a "test flight" and had previously accumulated about 2 hours of total flight time with the airplane. He added that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left, and he responded by applying right rudder and aft pitch to rotate the airplane. He added that, as the airplane lifted off the runway, the airplane continued to the left and impacted weeds and a ditch. The elevator, wings, and right aileron sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.